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11 May 2014

A BBC
radio DJ says his 32-year radio career is over after bosses "forced"
him to quit because he accidentally played a song with the N word in it.

David Lowe, 68, aired an 82-year-old version of The Sun Has Got His Hat On which featured the racial slur.

The BBC Radio Devon broadcaster apologised to officials at the station, based in Plymouth, but he said it fell on deaf ears.

Boss Emma Clements reportedly told Lowe while he had "properly" dealt
with his mistake, she thought it would best for him to step aside.

After his exit, Lowe claimed he was asked to say he was pursuing
other interests but he refused and made the reasons public through his
website.

He wrote: "On April 27, I featured an 82-year-old recording, one I've
heard hundreds of times over the years, and even featured occasionally
on my programmes.

"Unbeknown to me, however, that recording by Ambrose & His
Orchestra of The Sun Has Got His Hat On contains a line of lyric that
includes one of today's forbidden English language expressions ... the N
word.

"You've got to listen very carefully indeed to actually hear it. But, yes, it is there on the recording.

"To put it mildly, these past two weeks have played havoc with my
tremor symptoms, and it's going to take quite some time for me to get
back to where I was before this N-word issue blew-up ... if I ever do.

"I feel sure, therefore, most of you will understand that I now need
to focus on recovering, as best I can, the limited dexterity I enjoyed
before this regrettable episode began."

A BBC spokeswoman said the corporation admitted the discussion about
Mr Lowe's future "could have been handled better" and said the "door
remained open" should he want to return.

She added: "His offer to resign was agreed locally but once escalated
it was decided his resignation should not have been accepted.

"David was initially invited early last week (Tues 6 May) to return
to his show. He has declined and so we would like to thank him for his
many years presenting on Radio Devon and wish him well for the future."

In the meantime hundreds of people have taken to social media to offer Mr Lowe their support.